HAAM brings new programs to area to encourage success

As the summer months are approaching, Humble Area Assistance Ministries is gearing up for a busy summer with new programs to help get clients into the workforce.

HAAM offers education and employment services for clients in a variety of levels. Their programs range from basic reading and writing classes to GED classes to an English Second Language program.

“We recently named our self-sufficiency programs, the E³ center which stands for education, employment and empowerment. It really is a set of programs that will help people move up and out of poverty,” HAAM Program Director Steffani Chapman said.

During 2007, 624 individuals came through the job center for employment assistance while 495 students attended adult education class. HAAM is expecting even more people to visit this year due to the economy and job lay-offs.

HAAM will be adding a computer training class and job skill classes on Tuesday evenings where it will explain how to get a job and the job process. They also will have a special graduation ceremony for those who complete the ESL program.

“The computer lab is great because we have a teacher here every Monday morning that can help them learn how to use the programs, search for jobs and apply the tools we have available to them,” Chapman said.

HAAM has a portion of their building dedicated to finding employment and it features a three-step process to finding a job.

The first step is to attend on of their job search orientations followed by making an appointment to see a job advisor and then making a visit to the job search center.

“We have always helped our clients with resumes and now we can even provide them with business cards and clothing to wear on interviews,” Chapman said. “We can equip them with the tools to succeed.”

HAAM is also hoping to start partnering with local businesses to host job fairs and so they can have job postings updated regularly on their website or for the business to let them know if they have an opening in order to let their client know who is hiring.

The organization already has businesses like Administaff come forward to help teach job classes and provide information to participants about how to become successful.

“We look at this whole thing holistically because as people come in to find jobs, we realize they never got their high school diploma so we will put them through our GED program,” Chapman said.

Chapman and Development Coordinator Millie Garrison mentioned that HAAM services often come full circle because they can serve a full spectrum of education levels.

Additionally, HAAM is need of more Spanish speaking volunteers because of the amount of Hispanic clients that visit the organization and are in need of help. In 2007, 47 percent of HAAM clientele was Hispanic and they are expecting more to need help this year in all parts of the organization.

“We are all trying to learn how to speak Spanish to help our clients but we still need some more help,” Garrison said. “When we have a Hispanic client come in, we have to find someone who can help so having more Spanish-speaking volunteers would definitely help.”